Alta Equipment Co., based in Wixon, Mich., has acquired Eaton Rapids, Mich.-based Mid-State Industrial Services and Aurora Lift, Montgomery, Ill., and was named Hyster dealer in western Michigan, parts of northern Indiana and the Chicago market.
Mid-State, a Hyster dealer since 2005, covered 12 counties in Indiana and 37 counties in western Michigan. Mark Drummond, dealer principal of Mid-State will remain with the business and be part of the Alta leadership team.
The acquisition of Aurora gives Alta a foothold in the vast Chicago market, with more locations planned. Alta said it will not represent competitive brands previously represented by Aurora. Alta has been the Yale dealer in Michigan since 1984. Yale will continue to be represented in the Chicago market by Yes Lifts, Voss Equipment and Fitzgerald Equipment Co.
The acquisitions are expected to boost Alta’s annual revenue from about $45 million to $120 million, Crain’s Detroit Business reported. Formerly known as Alta Lift Truck Services, Alta is also moving into a 67,000-square-foot facility about a mile from its previous headquarters.
“We are delighted to expand our forklift footprint to represent the Hyster brand in western Michigan and Chicago,” said Alta owner and dealer principal Steve Greenawait. “The acquisition of Mid-State Industrial brings a committed workforce and a customer service culture consistent with what we provide at Alta. The acquisition of Mid-State provides us with a contiguous corridor into Chicago. We are excited about the opportunity from Hyster to become the exclusive dealer for the Chicago market.”
Hyster and Yale are part of the NACCO Materials Handling Group.
On Dec. 31, Alta bought the buildings, inventories and business lines of Southfield, Mich.-based Wolverine Tractor & Equipment Co. from Volvo Construction Equipment, making Alta Michigan’s authorized dealer of Volvo equipment.
